Improvement in fly-traps



PATENT O-EEIeE.

.IQH'NSON FLETCHER, OF CLEVELAND,- OHIO:

IMPROVEMENT IN. FLY-TRAPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 133,931, dated December 17, 1872.

trap; and it consists of a receptacle, the bottom of which is constituted of the frustum of a cone, having an opening, the top or cover thereof having a concavity, the vortex of which is constructed with an aperture or hole, in line with which is placed a shield or disk; of the combination with the said receptacle of a false or second bottom; and, lastly, of a slide for opening and closing the opening between the said receptacle and false bottom, substantially ashereinafter more fully set forth.

To enable others to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

In the accompanying drawing, A refers to a receptacle, the contour of the bottom of which is that of the frustum of a cone. The apex of this bottom or cone is formed into an opening, through which entrance for the flies to the said receptacle is furnished at this point. In consequence of the construction above ascribed to the bottom of the said receptacle a space is created between its lower side and the false or additional bottom, to be hereinafter described, which will permit of the flies going up through the openingin the said bottom, after having passed through the opening between the said receptacle and the said false bottom. B refers to the false or additional bottom above alluded to, and upon which the short legs of the receptacle A rest, the said bottom beingsupplied with wires or fingers. b b,

which are so arranged thereon as that be thrust into the neck of and up they can through the opening of the cone-shaped bottom of the said receptacle in such a manner as to enable the said bottom B to be fastened or attached thereto. By this way of attaching the said false bottom to the receptacle A, it will be seen that an opening, 0, is formed between the two, which serves as an entrance for the flies. After the receptacle has become filled with the flies it is necessary to prevent them from escaping, to which end a slide or annular strip of metal, 0, is fitted around the said receptacle, and provided with a bail, c, which latter device, when pushed downward, will close the said slide and thus confine the flies, whereby any disposition whatever may be made of them. To direct the passage of the flies entering the opening 0 upward toward the opening in the bottom of the receptacle A the false or additional bottom B is provided with a conically-shaped elevation, b. D refers to the cover or top of the receptacle A, which is supplied with a concavity, the vortex of which has an opening, through which the flies may enter the said receptacle. This cover can be removed from the receptacle at any time, or whenever desired. The concavity of the said cover or top directs the passage of the flies downward toward its opening and the interior of the receptacle. E refers to a metallic disk or shield, which is constructed with a concave-convex surface, the object of which will be hereinafter specified. Thisdisk is suitably supplied with wires or fingers e e, the upper ends of which are caused to bind against the edges or circumference of the opening in the cover D, and by which the said disk is suspended in place within the receptacle, it being hung in a vertical plane with and below the said opening, so as to conceal it from the view of the flies after the same have entered the receptacle, in order to prevent their escape at this point. It will be seen that, also, in consequence of the concavity of the lower side of the disk above referred to, the flies, in attempting to escape, will be baflled'in their upward flight, as the said concavity will have the tendencylto direct their flight toward it for a means of escape; and, further, the convexity of the upper side of the said disk will cause the said opening in the cover to appear to be closed, and thus make all the efforts of the flies to escape in vain.

It is proposed to supply the receptacle with a suitable quantity of water, into which the flies may fall after becoming exhausted from whirling about in the receptacle, and from I the want of freedom, whereby they may be drowned or destroyed.

Having thus-described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1: In combination with the receptacle A the top of cover 1), constructed with a concavity with an opening or entrance, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The false bottom B b, supplied with the fingers b b, in combination with the receptacle A, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The cover or top I), in combination with the disk E, supplied with the fingers or bars 0 e, substantially as and for. the purpose stated.

4. In combination with the receptacle A and bottom B the slide 0 with the bail c, substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

In testimony whereofI haveherennto signed my name this 24th day of. July, A. D. 1872, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHNSON FLETCHER.

Witnesses:

WM. M. LYNCH, J. W. MIsrER. 

